On Sunday, one billionaire family will walk away from the Big Game a few dividends richer.
While fans are focused on the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, the owners of both teams have their own stakes in the outcome, with billions in franchise value on the line.
The NFL is one of the biggest businesses in the world, accounting for 30 of Forbes‘ top 50 sporting franchises of 2025.
And while star players and coaches are certainly deserving of credit for that fact, it’s often the owners who are responsible for the key decisions made by their franchise.
Kansas City Chiefs co-owner and CEO Clark Hunt, for example, hired head coach Andy Reid in 2013; the Chiefs have since appeared in five Super Bowls, winning three.
Owners aren’t only judged by their fanbases, though; they’re judged by the players, too. Last year, the NFL Players Association released its third annual club report cards, based on a survey completed by 1,695 active players.
One of the categories players were surveyed about was ownership, which was graded based on how willing players believe an owner is to invest in the team’s facilities, how much they contribute to a positive team culture, and how committed they are to building a competitive team. Each owner was given a letter grade ranging from an F- (0-49) to an A+ (97-100), which are included below.
Here’s everything you need to know about the NFL’s team owners, from how they acquired their team, to their NFLPA grade, to how the team’s performed during their tenure.
All owner net worths were accurate as of February 3, 2026.
Arizona Cardinals: Michael Bidwill
Michael Bidwill is a third-generation owner of the Arizona Cardinals, inheriting the team after his father, Bill Bidwill, died in 2019. Forbes estimated in 2015 that the family’s net worth was $1.4 billion.
The Cardinals were originally purchased by Michael Bidwill’s grandfather, Charles, in 1933 for $50,000 — now, they’re worth $5.5 billion, ranking as the 45th most valuable sports team in the world, per Forbes.
Under Michael Bidwill’s leadership, the team has made just one wild-card playoff appearance, which they lost in 2021, and he was given a D- by the NFL Players’ Association; the report said players feel that he “only slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and “is somewhat committed to building a competitive team.”
Meanwhile, a November 2023 investigation by ESPN detailed a number of workplace misconduct allegations from current and former Cardinals employees. Bidwill told the outlet in a statement that the team has “worked hard over the last several years to improve our culture across the board,” adding, “We have more to do and, as I have said to every member of the Cardinals organization, that includes my own work to grow and improve as a leader.”
The Cardinals did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Atlanta Falcons: Arthur Blank
Home Depot cofounder Arthur Blank, who Forbes estimates is worth $11.1 billion, purchased the Atlanta Falcons in 2002 for $545 million, famously writing the agreement on a cloth napkin during a December 2001 meeting with seller Taylor Smith. The sale was finalized just a couple of months later in February 2002.
Under Blank’s leadership, the Falcons have had nine winning seasons, including eight playoff berths and a Super Bowl LI appearance in 2017. Blank also built Mercedes-Benz Stadium and was named the 2021 Sports Philanthropist of the Year by ESPN. He was given an A+ ranking by the NFLPA.
Per Forbes, the Falcons are the 29th-most-valuable sports team in the world, worth $6.35 billion.
Baltimore Ravens: Steve Bisciotti
At 65, Allegis Group founder Steve Bisciotti, who Forbes estimates has a net worth of $8.5 billion, is one of the youngest owners in the NFL. He bought a minority stake from the previous owner, Art Modell, in 2000 and completed his purchase in April 2004, spending a total of $600 million, ESPN reported at the time.
“We’re proud of what we’re giving to Baltimore. You have to make the playoffs to have the opportunity to compete for championships, and championships are our goal. We want to be a consistent winner that avoids big lulls and not being in the playoffs for any length of time,” Bisciotti has said.
The Ravens have won two Super Bowls under Bisciotti (2000 and 2012) and are consistently competitive, posting one of the strongest postseason records in the NFL under Bisciotti’s ownership.
Forbes valued the team at $6.1 billion, ranking it 33rd most valuable in the world. Bisciotti received an A rating from the NFLPA.
Buffalo Bills: Terry and Kim Pegula
In October 2014, energy billionaire Terry Pegula, now estimated to have a net worth of $9.3 billion, purchased the Buffalo Bills with his wife, Kim Pegula, for $1.4 billion in cash, outbidding the likes of Donald Trump and Jon Bon Jovi.
In December 2024, Terry Pegula and the Bills added 10 limited partners to the team’s ownership group, described as “non-controlling, minority interests.” Some of these partners include former US National Team soccer player Jozy Altidore and former NBA players Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
The diversification of ownership came after Kim Pegula was declared legally incapacitated in March 2023 following a brain injury sustained during cardiac arrest in June 2022. Kim Pegula is still listed as a co-owner by the Bills organization, but her duties as president have been assumed by Terry Pegula, who maintains the titles of co-owner, CEO, and president.
During the Pegulas’ tenure, the Bills have become a formidable team, with eight playoff appearances, including the 2020 AFC Championship. The Pegulas also own the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL.
Forbes reported that the Bills are worth $5.95 billion, ranking them 37th among the world’s most valuable sports teams. Pegula was given a B in ownership by the NFLPA.
Terry and Kim Pegula are the parents of WTA No. 6 player Jessica Pegula.
Carolina Panthers: David Tepper
Billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist David Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers in 2018 for $2.275 billion, ESPN reported. Tepper has an estimated net worth of $23.7 billion, according to Forbes.
“I am thrilled to begin this new era of Carolina Panthers football and am humbled by the overwhelming excitement and support for the team,” Tepper said at the time.
Under his ownership, the Panthers endured several losing seasons and missed the playoffs through 2024. In the 2025 season, Carolina finished 8-9, won the NFC South, and made its first playoff appearance since 2017.
The team is valued at $5.7 billion, making it the 40th-most-valuable team in the world, tied with the NBA’s Miami Heat, according to Forbes.
Tepper was given a D- in ownership by the NFLPA; in the report card, players expressed frustration over the stadium’s use of synthetic turf rather than natural grass. Players also said Tepper “only slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and is “only somewhat committed to building a competitive team.”
The Panthers did not respond to Business Insider’s previous request for comment.
Chicago Bears: The McCaskey family
In February 2025, the Chicago Bears announced the team’s longtime principal owner, Virginia Halas McCaskey, had died at age 102.
Her son, George McCaskey, has served as the team’s chairman since 2011, following the death of his brother, Michael McCaskey, and continues to serve in that role.
Halas McCaskey had been the oldest and longest-tenured team owner in the NFL, having inherited the team in 1983 after her father, Hall of Famer and Bears founder George Halas Sr., died.
Under her ownership, Halas McCaskey saw the Bears reach four NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls, including a win in 1986. The team has struggled in recent years, finishing the 2024 season 5-12, but they had a stronger season this year, finishing with an 11-6 record and winning their first playoff game in 15 years.
The McCaskey family was awarded an A- in ownership by the NFLPA.
In 2015, Forbes estimated the McCaskey family had a net worth of $1.3 billion, and the team, which is worth $8.2 billion today, was reported to be the 10th most valuable sports team in the world in a tie with the MLB’s New York Yankees.
Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Brown
Mike Brown inherited the Cincinnati Bengals in 1991 after the death of his father, Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown.
Paul Brown founded the Bengals in 1967 after cofounding and coaching the Cleveland Browns (who, yes, bear his name) for more than a decade.
In 2011, the Brown family purchased the remaining 30% of the team they didn’t own for $200 million in cash, becoming the sole owners of the Bengals, the NFL reported, citing Forbes. Mike Brown and his family have an estimated net worth of $5 billion.
Mike Brown is the Bengals’ principal owner and team president. After decades of struggle, the Bengals found success in recent years thanks in part to quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who led the team to Super Bowl LVI in 2021, losing 23-20 to the LA Rams.
Mike Brown received a C ownership rating from the NFLPA.
Cleveland Browns: Jimmy and Dee Haslam
Former Pilot Company CEO Jimmy Haslam and his wife, Dee Haslam, purchased a 70% stake in the Cleveland Browns from Randy Lerner in 2012 for $1 billion. Jimmy Haslam has an estimated net worth of $8.7 billion, per Forbes.
Since the Haslams took over, the Browns have had just two winning seasons, in 2020 and 2023.
They were given a C+ ownership rating by the NFLPA and, per Forbes, the team is worth $6.4 billion, making it the 28th most valuable franchise in the world.
Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones is the man behind the most valuable sports franchise in the world — the Dallas Cowboys — worth $13 billion, per Forbes.
That’s more than 90 times what Jones paid for the team in 1989. (He paid H.R. Bright $140 million.) He and his family now have an estimated net worth of $20.8 billion, per Forbes.
In the decades that followed, the Cowboys won three Super Bowls (1992, 1993, and 1995), but they haven’t made it beyond the divisional round of the playoffs since.
Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 — the 15th owner to receive such an award — and was given a B in ownership by the NFLPA in 2025.
Denver Broncos: Greg Penner
In August 2022, the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group purchased the Denver Broncos from the Pat Bowlen Trust for $4.65 billion, the NFL reported.
The controlling ownership designation was transferred from Rob Walton — heir to the Walmart fortune — to his son-in-law, Broncos CEO Greg Penner (who’s married to Carrie Walton Penner), in October 2023. Rob Walton and his family have an estimated net worth of $142.5 billion, per Forbes.
Penner oversaw the hiring of Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who, alongside rookie quarterback Bo Nix, took the team to its first playoff game since its Super-Bowl-winning 2016 season.
The Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 18th-most-valuable sports team in the world, with a reported value of $6.8 billion.
The Walton-Penner family was given an A ownership ranking by the NFLPA.
Detroit Lions: Sheila Ford Hamp
Sheila Ford Hamp became the principal owner and chair of the Detroit Lions in June 2020, after inheriting the team from her mother, Martha Firestone Ford.
Firestone Ford had previously taken over the team in 2014 after the death of her husband, Bill Ford Sr., who’d purchased the Lions in 1963 for $6 million. In 2015, Forbes estimated the Ford family had a net worth of $2 billion.
Under Sheila Ford Hamp’s leadership, the Lions have entered an unprecedented era of success, thanks in large part to her hires, GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.
The Lions, valued at $5.4 billion, ranked 48th among the world’s most valuable sports franchises in 2025.
Sheila Ford Hamp received a B+ in ownership from the NFLPA in February 2025.
Green Bay Packers: Publicly owned
The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly owned team in the NFL.
Fans have owned the franchise for more than a century, and there have only been six stock offerings, the most recent being in 2021, with stocks worth $300. Per the Packers, the franchise is owned by more than 539,000 people who own more than 5.2 million shares.
The Packers are the 23rd most valuable sports team in the world, worth $6.65 billion, according to Forbes, and they were given an A- in ownership by the NFLPA.
And if you’re wondering how the team is actually run: It’s governed by an unpaid board of directors and a seven-member executive committee.
Houston Texans: Cal McNair
In 1999, the Houston Texans were founded by Janice and Bob McNair. When Bob McNair died in 2018, ownership was transferred to Janice. Then, in March 2024, it was transferred to their son, Cal McNair, via a vote. Per Forbes, Janice McNair and the family have an estimated net worth of $7.3 billion.
Cal McNair had already been serving as the team’s chair and CEO since July 2018 and January 2019, respectively.
The Texans finished the 2025 regular season 12-5 and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in the wild-card round of the playoffs before losing to the New England Patriots in the divisional round.
Forbes reported that the Texans are the 17th most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth $7.4 billion. Cal McNair was given an A ownership rating by the NFLPA in 2025.
Indianapolis Colts: Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson
Since June 2025, the Indianapolis Colts have been owned by Jim Irsay’s daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson — following the longtime owner’s passing in May 2025.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon is the team’s principal owner and CEO. Like her father, Irsay-Gordon worked her way through multiple areas of the Colts organization, like marketing, community relations, and football operations, before becoming CEO.
Their grandfather, Robert Irsay, originally purchased the team — then known as the Baltimore Colts — in 1972 for $12 million. He moved the team to Indianapolis in 1984.
In 1997, his son, Jim Irsay inherited the team at just 37 years old. He served as the team’s principal owner, chairman, and CEO during his life, and had an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion at his time of death.
Under Jim Irsay’s leadership, the Colts won 10 division titles and made two Super Bowl appearances, including a win in 2007.
The Colts are the 38th most valuable sports franchise in the world, in a tie with the Houston Rockets, worth $5.9 billion, and Irsay was given a B in ownership by the NFLPA in 2025.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Shahid “Shad” Khan
Shahid “Shad” Khan, who has an estimated net worth of $15 billion, purchased the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wayne Weaver in November 2011 for $770 million. The sale was finalized in January 2012.
The Jaguars have struggled under Khan’s leadership, making the playoffs only three times.
Still, he was given a B+ in ownership by the NFLPA, and the team is worth $5.6 billion, tying with the Brooklyn Nets as the 43rd most valuable franchise in sports, according to Forbes.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Hunt family
The Kansas City Chiefs have been owned by the Hunt family since the beginning. Lamar Hunt Sr. founded the team in 1959 as the Dallas Texans, and the team was moved to Kansas City in 1963. After Lamar Hunt Sr.’s death in 2006, ownership was divided between his wife, Norma, and their four children: Clark Hunt, Sharron Hunt Munson, Daniel Hunt, and Lamar Hunt Jr. As of 2024, the family has an estimated net worth of $24.8 billion, per Forbes.
Clark Hunt (pictured above with his wife and children) became the team’s CEO in 2010 and has since been responsible for team decisions, including the hiring of head coach Andy Reid in 2013.
Reid has since become the winningest head coach in franchise history with three Super Bowl victories alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Forbes ranked the Chiefs, worth $6.2 billion, as the 32nd most valuable franchise in sports.
Clark Hunt’s ownership rating rose from an F- in 2024 to a C- in 2025; in the report card, players said they feel he “moderately contributes to a positive team culture” and “is committed to building a competitive team.”
Las Vegas Raiders: Mark Davis
Mark Davis, who has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion, inherited the Las Vegas Raiders (then the Oakland Raiders) in 2011 after the death of his father, Al Davis.
Al Davis originally purchased a 10% stake in the team in 1966 for $18,500 and increased his ownership to 67% before his death.
In October 2024, Mark Davis expanded the team’s ownership, selling 5% to former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, 5% to Knighthead Capital Management cofounder Tom Wagner, and 0.5% to former NFL defensive lineman Richard Seymour.
The following month, Davis agreed to sell an additional 15% of the franchise, with equal stakes going to Silver Lake co-CEO and Endeavor board chairman Egon Durban and Discovery Land Company founder and chairman Michael Meldman.
Despite the changes, Davis remains the team’s principal owner and was given an A rating by the NFLPA in February 2025. The Raiders are reportedly worth $7.7 billion, making them the 13th-most-valuable sports team in the world.
Los Angeles Chargers: Dean Spanos
In 2018, Dean Spanos became the principal owner of the Los Angeles Chargers (previously the San Diego Chargers) after the death of his father, Alex Spanos.
The elder Spanos had owned the team since 1984, after purchasing a 60% stake for $70 million, ESPN reported. He went on to buy out minority owners’ shares to own 97% of the team, which was passed on to his four children. In 2018, the Spanos family had an estimated net worth of $2.4 billion.
Dean Spanos took over daily operations as team president in 1994, and has passed along day-to-day duties to his sons, AG and John Spanos, who now work as president of business operations and president of football operations, respectively.
In October 2024, billionaire Tom Gores purchased a 27% stake in the team for $750 million.
The Chargers are tied with the Chicago Bulls and Mercedes (F1) as the 34th most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth $6 billion.
Spanos’ NFLPA ownership ranking improved from a C+ in 2024 to an A in 2025. In the latest report card, Spanos was given a 9.6/10 rating for his “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities”; players also said he “significantly contributes to a positive team culture” and is “extremely committed to building a competitive team.”
Los Angeles Rams: Stan Kroenke
In August 2010, Stan Kroenke paid $750 million to become the principal owner of the St. Louis Rams. He had previously been a minority owner of the team, purchasing a 30% stake in 1995 and increasing it to 40% stake by 1997.
In 2016, fellow NFL owners approved Kroenke’s proposal to move the Rams back to Los Angeles, and in 2021, he opened SoFi Stadium, home to both the Rams and the Chargers.
The LA Rams are worth $10.5 billion, according to Forbes, making them the third most valuable team in sports, behind the Dallas Cowboys and the Golden State Warriors, while Kroenke himself has an estimated net worth of $21.3 billion.
“Stan has the vision, resources, inspiration and creativity to create the right setting for the NFL in Los Angeles,” Jerry Jones has said, calling him “a valuable asset to the National Football League.”
Since 2010, the Rams have made seven playoff appearances, all under head coach Sean McVay. The Rams won the Super Bowl in 2022 at home at SoFi, becoming just the second team to win the Super Bowl at home.
Kroenke was given a C ownership rating by the NFLPA.
He also owns Premier League team Arsenal FC.
Miami Dolphins: Stephen M. Ross
In January 2009, billionaire Stephen M. Ross completed his purchase of the Miami Dolphins for a total of $1 billion. Ross had initially purchased a 50% stake in the franchise in February 2008 for $550 million, and the following January, he purchased an additional 45 percent of the team, leaving 5% to previous owner Wayne Huizenga, ESPN reported.
After his 2009 purchase, Ross said, “That is the most important thing, and the thing that drives me — creating and being part of a winning organization. There is nothing more important than that.”
Today, Ross is the chairman of the board, managing general partner, and owner of the team, which is worth a reported $7.5 billion, making it the 15th most valuable franchise in sports in a tie with the Los Angeles Clippers. Ross has an estimated net worth of $17 billion.
The Dolphins were the highest-ranked team in the league by the NFLPA, earning an A or A+ in all categories, including treatment of families, the locker room, weight room, training staff, head coach, and ownership. Ross himself earned an A+ ranking, one of only three owners to receive such high praise.
Minnesota Vikings: Zygi Wilf
In June 2005, Red McCombs sold the Minnesota Vikings to brothers Zygi and Mark Wilf, their cousin Lenny Wilf, and their co-investors for $600 million. Zygi Wilf is widely reported to have an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion, although it hasn’t been reported by Forbes.
Today, Zygi Wilf is the chairman and control owner of the team, though the trio’s individual stakes have never been divulged, Sport Business Journal reported.
The Vikings ranked as the second-best team in the NFL, according to the NFLPA’s 2025 report cards, earning A+ marks in ownership, head coach, locker room, and treatment of families.
Under the Wilfs’ ownership, the team opened US Bank Stadium in 2016 — the largest construction project in Minnesota’s history — and has made multiple playoff appearances, though the Vikings haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 1976.
The Vikings are the 31st most valuable team in sports, worth $6.25 billion, per Forbes.
New England Patriots: Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft is one of the best-known owners in the league. He purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for $172 million and now has an estimated net worth of $13.8 billion.
Through the purchase, Kraft became the team’s chairman and CEO, and he pledged “to help bring a championship to New England.”
More than 30 years later, the Patriots have become one of the most successful teams in NFL history with six Super Bowl victories from 10 appearances. This year, they’re going for a record seventh win.
Per Forbes, the Patriots are worth $9 billion — more than 52 times what Kraft bought the team for.
He received a D ownership ranking from the NFLPA. On the report card, Kraft was rated 6.15/10 for his “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities,” and players said he “slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and “is somewhat committed to building a competitive team.” Kraft announced that a new, $50 million training facility is expected to open this year.
The Patriots did not previously respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
New Orleans Saints: Gayle Benson
In 2018, Gayle Benson inherited the New Orleans Saints from her husband, Tom Benson, after his death. She has an estimated net worth of $7.9 billion, Forbes reported.
Tom Benson had previously purchased the team in 1985 for about $70 million.
In 2021, Gayle Benson told The Times-Picayune that after her death, the succession plan is to sell the Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans (which she also owns) to a buyer who promises to keep the teams in New Orleans and donate all the proceeds to charities.
“When Tom bought this team, he didn’t have a lot of money. Everything that he had, had to be given to keep the team. He worked really hard to get the Pelicans here. He sacrificed a lot. I want to make sure that we keep the teams here. I want them to stay in New Orleans forever,” Benson said.
Benson was given an A ranking in ownership by the NFLPA. The Saints, worth $5.3 billion, did not make Forbes’ list of 50 most valuable sports teams in 2025, but it ranks 31st most valuable out of all 32 NFL teams.
New York Giants: John Mara, Steven Tisch
The New York Giants were founded in 1925 by Tim Mara and have been part of the Mara family ever since.
Team ownership was passed to Tim’s sons, Jack and Wellington Mara, in 1959, and now the team is run by principal owner, CEO, and president John Mara, who took over in 2005 after his father, Wellington’s, death. John Mara had been with the organization since 1991.
However, while John Mara is listed as the team’s principal owner, he’s actually shared ownership with Steve Tisch since 2005.
Steve Tisch’s father, Preston Robert Tisch, purchased a 50% stake in the Giants in 1991, and after his death, Steve became chairman and executive vice president.
Together, Mara and Tisch helped plan and build MetLife Stadium, and the team has won two Super Bowls (2008 and 2012) under their leadership. However, the team has struggled in recent years, winning just four games last season.
Still, the Giants are the fourth most valuable team in sports, worth $10.1 billion. Tisch has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, Forbes reported, while Mara reportedly has an estimated net worth of $500 million.
Tisch was not named in the 2025 report card; Mara was given a C+ ownership ranking by the NFLPA.
New York Jets: Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson
Woody Johnson — of Johnson & Johnson lineage — purchased the New York Jets in 2000 for $635 million. Forbes estimated in 2024 that the Johnson family had a net worth of $16 billion.
The Jets have struggled under his leadership, having failed to make the playoffs for the past 15 seasons. Johnson was also accused of letting his teenage sons, Brick and Jack, make decisions for the organization, as reported by The Athletic and ESPN’s Rich Cimini in 2024.
Johnson denied those claims in a January 2025 interview with the New York Post, telling the outlet they were “unsubstantiated” and that his son Brick “has no role in the organization.” Johnson added, “When you’re losing games, it gives people the artistic license to kind of do what they want.”
When reached by Business Insider for a comment in January 2025, a representative for the Jets shared the earlier comments made to the New York Post.
The Jets finished the 2025 season 3-14 and will be looking to greatly improve under new head coach Aaron Glenn and new GM Darren Mougey, and without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was released by the team in February 2025.
Johnson’s ownership ranking declined from a B- in 2024 to an F in 2025. In the report card, players said they feel he “does not contribute to a positive team culture” and is “somewhat committed to building a competitive team.” The Jets declined to comment on the rating when reached by Business Insider.
Still, the team is considered the 12th most valuable franchise in sports, worth $8.1 billion, per Forbes.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jeffrey Lurie
Businessman Jeffrey Lurie purchased the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994 for $185 million. He now serves as the team’s chairman and CEO, and he and his family have an estimated net worth of $7.6 billion, according to Forbes.
Under his leadership, the Eagles have made the playoffs numerous times and won two of their four Super Bowl appearances.
Lurie received a B ranking from the NFLPA, and the team is worth $8.3 billion, per Forbes, making it the ninth-most-valuable franchise in sports.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Arthur Rooney II, Daniel Rooney Trust
Similar to the Mara family and the Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been part of the Rooney family since 1933, when the team was founded by Art Rooney. He remained the team’s chairman until his death in 1988.
After his death, his son Dan Rooney took over ownership until his death in 2017.
Now, Dan’s son, Art Rooney II, is responsible for most of the franchise’s stake. However, he’s been an active member of the organization since 1989, when he was first on the team’s board of directors. He was named president of the Steelers in 2003.
Since 2017, the Steelers have made six playoff appearances, though they’ve failed to get past the divisional round. Despite recent difficulties, the Steelers remain one of the most successful franchises in NFL history, with six Super Bowl wins from eight appearances.
The Steelers are the 26th most valuable team in sports in a tie with Ferrari (F1), worth $6.5 billion. In 2015, Forbes reported that the Rooney family had an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.
Art Rooney II received a D in the NFLPA’s ownership ranking. He was given a 6/10 for his “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities,” and players feel he “slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and is “committed to building a competitive team.”
The Steelers did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
San Francisco 49ers: The York family
In 1977, Edward DeBartolo Sr. paid $13 million for the San Francisco 49ers to give to his son, Edward DeBartolo Jr.
Edward DeBartolo Jr. ran the 49ers organization throughout the ’80s and ’90s, leading to five Super Bowl wins and securing his position in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But in 1998, DeBartolo pleaded guilty “to not reporting a bribe from a Louisiana government official,” Forbes reported, so his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, took over ownership in 2001. DeBartolo Jr. was pardoned by Donald Trump in February 2020.
DeBartolo York and her husband, John York, have been cochairs of the team since then, while their son, Jed York, has been CEO since 2010.
In March 2024, ESPN reported that Jed York was moving to become the team’s principal owner. “I think it’s just a move from a family standpoint to just keep this team in our family for generations to come,” he said, per ESPN.
Though the team hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1994, it has remained competitive. In the last six seasons, the 49ers have made four NFC Championship and two Super Bowl appearances.
The 49ers are the eighth most valuable franchise in sports, worth $8.6 billion, and the DeBartolo-York family received an A- in ownership from the NFLPA. They have an estimated net worth of $8.4 billion.
Seattle Seahawks: Paul G. Allen Trust, Jody Allen
The Seattle Seahawks are owned by the Paul G. Allen Estate.
Paul G. Allen was the cofounder of Microsoft alongside Bill Gates. He purchased the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million.
At the time of his death in 2018, he had an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion. His estate has since been controlled by his sister, Jody Allen. In July 2024, Sports Illustrated reported she is the team’s principal owner and that there’s a “mandate that she eventually sells the team and donates the proceeds to charitable causes” that Paul Allen supported.
Other members of the Seahawks’ senior leadership include president Chuck Arnold and GM John Schneider.
The Seahawks have been steady since 2018, making multiple playoff appearances and, in the 2025 season, advancing to the Super Bowl, their first NFC Championship and Super Bowl berth since 2014.
The team is valued at $6.7 billion by Forbes, making it tied with the Boston Celtics for 21st most valuable sports franchise. Jody Allen was given a C+ in ownership.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Glazer Family
Ownership of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is split between the six siblings of the Glazer family: Avram Glazer, Bryan Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Edward Glazer, Joel Glazer, and Kevin Glazer.
The team was purchased by their father, Malcolm Glazer, in 1995 for $192 million, and they inherited it after his death in 2014. As of 2024, the Glazer family has an estimated net worth of $10.2 billion.
The NFLPA’s team report card gave the family a D+ in ownership, a slight improvement from 2024’s D- ranking. Players feel the family “slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and “is somewhat committed to building a competitive team.” The report also gave the family a 6.5/10 rating for “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities.”
The Buccaneers did not respond to a previous request for comment from Business Insider.
The Buccaneers have won two Super Bowls (2003 and 2021) under the Glazer family and are worth $6.6 billion, according to Forbes, making the team the 24th highest valued franchise in the world in a tie with Manchester United, which is also owned by the Glazer family.
Tennessee Titans: Amy Adams Strunk
Amy Adams Strunk, who has an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, is the controlling owner and cochair of the Tennessee Titans, having inherited the team in March 2015 after the death of her father, KS “Bud” Adams, in 2013. (Adams founded the team as the Houston Oilers in 1960.)
Since 2015, the Titans have had six winning seasons, including five playoff berths.
As an owner, Adams Strunk has worked to increase the team’s staff by more than 150% and has been a key figure in getting approval for a new stadium, the Titans reported. She was awarded a B in ownership by the NFLPA, and the team is ranked as the 30th-most-valuable sports franchise, worth $6.3 billion, per Forbes.
Washington Commanders: Josh Harris
In 2023, investor Josh Harris purchased the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder for a record $6.05 billion. He made the purchase through the Harris Ownership Group, which includes limited partners like former NBA star Magic Johnson, investor David Blitzer, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
“I feel an awesome responsibility to the city of Washington,” Harris said after the sale, per ESPN. “I know what I’ve got to do. It comes down to winning. It’s on me and on our ownership group to deliver. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Harris has an estimated net worth of $10.7 billion, per Forbes.
Harris was given an A in ownership by the NFLPA after his second season with the team. The Commanders are the 14th most valuable franchise in sports, worth $7.6 billion, per Forbes.
In the 2024 season, the Commanders made their first NFC Championship since 1992 under the leadership of head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
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